Warriors end streak in quality fashion

Carpinteria’s boys basketball team gave Bishop Diego a taste of the lead on Monday, only to turn it bitter by scoring the game’s final eight points to post a 56-49 non-league victory over the Cardinals.

It was pure sweetness for the Warriors, who snapped an eight-game losing streak.

“We just wanted to have a win finally after losing eight straight and it came against our rival so words can’t describe it,” said Manny Rodriguez, who scored a game-high 25 points.

Bishop Diego’s Kyle Holland alertly calls timeout before Carpinteria’s Trevor Madden can tie him up.

Hayden Slaught gave Bishop Diego its first lead since the first minutes of the game at 49-48 when he picked up a bad Carpinteria pass and scored a breakaway layup with 1:48 left.

Slaught collected 14 of his team-high 21 points in the second half, helping the Cardinals erase a 12-point halftime deficit, which was as many as 15 in the first half.

“We were down by a lot so I just wanted to come out intense and try to get some quick points back on the board,” Slaught said. “We ended up doing that and getting right back in it so that was the plan in the second half.”

The Warriors maintained a 40-31 lead to start the fourth quarter when Trent Speier found his range, sinking two 3-pointers in the first 90 seconds of the final frame. Rodriguez connected on one of his own, keeping Carpinteria out front 43-37.

Kyle Holland finally pulled the Cardinals to within one at 46-45 before Jovan Saenz knocked down two free throws to push the Warriors back up three. Slaught scored the next four points for Bishop to give the Cardinals their brief lead.

Thirty seconds later, Saenz tied it at 49-49 on the first free throw of two. His second missed, but Trevor Madden came up with it and was fouled on the putback.

Madden sank both free throws with 1:10 on the clock, giving the Warriors their lead back at 51-49. Carpinteria converted on 8-of-10 free-throw attempts in the fourth quarter but were 3-of-8 before that.

“Trevor Madden, those free throws he hit were huge,” said Warriors head coach John Ward. “He’s had a little trouble shooting them lately but I’ll tell you, he stepped up there and looked like a pro when he made them.”

Rodriguez came up big in the clutch on the defensive end, getting a clean block on Bishop’s next possession that was the beginning of the end for the Cardinals.

Madden was fouled on the rebound and made one of two and Rodriguez followed the miss with a putback on his second try to give Carpinteria a 54-49 lead with 25 seconds remaining.

Madden finished with 13 points while John Bustillos added nine.

Paul Garcia was Bishop’s other scorer in double figures with 12.

Carpinteria’s losing streak began the night senior point guard Kevin Lusterio went down with a knee injury. For 36 seconds on Monday, it was how it was supposed to be. Lusterio was in the starting five for tipoff as the injured player was being honored on Senior Day. Rodriguez and Bustillos are also seniors for the Warriors.

CARPINTERIA 56, BISHOP DIEGO 49

BISHOP DIEGO – Holland 2, Garcia 12, Speier 6, Munoz 2, Tack 4, Slaught 21, Ramirez 2.  Totals – 21 FG, 3-4 FT, 49.

CARPINTERIA – Bustillos 9, Saenz 4, Rodriguez 25, Madden 13, Babineaux 2, Doop 2, Sova 1. Totals – 20, 11-18, 56

Bishop Diego 6 13 12 18 – 49

Carpinteria 16  15  9  16 – 56

3-ptrs – BD 4 (Speier 2, Slaught 2), C 5 (Madden 2, Bustillos 2, Rodriguez)